The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1887-01-06
OUR RINGWOOD LETTER.
Special c0rresDOndencs of the Gold In

Special correspondence Of the Gold Leaf.
RNGwooD, N. c., Dec. 81, 1886.
The Christmas holidays have passed of
with no accidents or untOward circumstan-
ceS to note.
The Christmas tree of the Episcopal Sun
day-school Tuesday night was much enjoy
ed and many valuable presents to the re-
loicing children were distributed there
from.
am pleased to note your remarks upon
Rev. 5. w. Coe. He is indeed thorough
section whom he served as pastor the past
year, regardless OF SectS or creedS, for his
piety and strict upright walk; and while
there may be more eloquent and fOrceful
speakers, Che being yet young if all pull
pits and congregations were served by such
pure and upright pastors the pulpit would
indeed be "a host i'm virtues cause"
1t is now Nep Years Zee! What visions
of departed glory loom up from memory's
corridor at the very words years gone by,
when our hearts were young, what gay
times we would have. When the old year
was slowly declining and the new rising
upon the ashes of the past then Joy reigned
of New Years Eve is ever an oasis in the
great desert of life, back to which even
now, my thoughts delight to wander New
Years Eve then and now is, alas, so differ
ent it makes the heart ache at the COMPARE
son. Those who formed our unbrOken
household band are now scattered and the
links which formed our chain of happiness
are broken, never again to be united. Upon
the careless brow OF some, the spell of
thought has been laid the caution and dis
trust of the world is plainly visible and
those guileless hearts are no longer ours.
Wild flowers have blOssOmed and faded for
many year upon the graves of some of
the dearest companions of former New
Years Ewes and new made grave received
the blessed remains of what made it all it
was. Neao Years Eoe! What sad night!
What time for reflection upon the past
year. Tonight the winds shrek requium
for the departed year gone from the earth
forever, and seem to whisper into our ears
solemn words of warning. Oh the changes
which have swept over our paths since this
time one little year ago. Its shade is on
each brow, its shadow in each heart. We
may look upon the faces of those whose
hearts one year ago beat high with bound
ing hope, but now are hid forever from our
view by the cruel turf of the graveyard.
Through the telescope of the past the New
Year would indeed be dreary prospect,
did not hope birth her brilliant colors,
pencil the canvass of the past and gid
with bewildering lOveliness, the unwritten
pages of the future. By her radiant beams
these loved forms now asleep forever in
deaths embrace, are Deheld and thought OF
as in fairer CLINE where pain and parting
are unknown and upon whose peaceful
shore the storms which cloud our sky never
burst and naught save beauty, order and
peace reignS forever. Did no thorns pierce
cur feet upon the dusty highway of life, we
could never fully appreciate the flowers
which at every step spring up, and gladden.
us with their enlivening presence. Bulwer
has truly said, "hOpe is plant which can
never he rooted out of a noble heart till the
last heart string crack as it is pulled
away"
Mr.. Henry Blount on last Christmas, 1886,
produced the following, and most beautiful
thought which is worthy of reproduction
any time: christmas is here and while
many are Joyous and happy, there are
others who are in the depths of a rayless
anniversary as the saddest one of all the;I
lives. When the fires are sparkling and
merry making is on the grand rounds and
all shall seem bright and buoyant, the
thought will steal over one like the memo
ry of dreadful dream, Where is the
other? Calmly and forever reposing amid
the silent land of the sleepers. If the
Christmas season could only be yelled, we
might forget that there are dear little
stockings never again to hang around the
chimney corners and over the fire place
But Christmas will come, with all its con-
VITALITY and carOusal, while thousands OF
sorrOwing bleeding hearts are beating like
muffied drums, the dead march over
blighted hopes, shattered affections and
falling tears. What shadows amaze
What shadows we pursue -
GEM.